15 replies

In my house it is a family issue. Even if you are not a diabetic you will eat healthy because that is all I buy and cook. I am trying to live long here. When I visit at your house I take "my kind of food" when you visit at my house, you bring "your kind of food". It won't kill you if I feed you mine, but i might die if I eat yours.

It's part of who I am so I don't really think about it much. I do what I need to do, sometimes people ask me about it or see what I'm doing but I don't go out of my way to hide it or share it unless there is something I need help with.

Being diabetic is isolating enough without excluding my family. They all know, they watch me test, try to help me figure out what I should eat for the most part. We do have an ice cream weakness in the house, but that is our worst one. I could not do this if I didn't have the support of my family. Even if they forget sometimes, at least it is a short jump to get back on board.

Hello there MAYS! For me personally, I am VERY OPEN in my house. I have made changes in all of our diets to eat healthier and teach my children about the healthier choices. My husband and I recently began bike riding together and our kids have joined in this. As a family we are now doing 6-8 miles. We get out more and go swimming. In fact, my youngest daughter has REALLY shined with being in tuned and wanting to eat better. She asks me now if she can help me cook healthier. To make it easier on the small changes I make in our house. I allow each one of them 2 things I will not change on them (and it has to be reaonable). Since I am the one who cooks and plans the meals, they pretty much got to go with the flow but they are more willing now in TRYING. I "occasionally" allow a fun dessert and get them on a 3 meal 3 snack routine and what there portions. I am trying to show them they can have their cake and eat it too-just in moderation. I also cut out all the bad fast food habits and offer better alternatives.

I believe it's of paramount importance for family members to know of the condition, side effects, medical emergency procedures, etc. I believe it's also important in regards to knowing one's family history of heart issues, depression, epilepsy and other such conditions. My wife is completely on board with my condition as I am with hers. My step son is aware of our conditions as well. There are some coworkers that I have chosen to tell of my condition but without sporting a t shirt saying, "Got Glucose?" Who you tell or not and what you say or not is indeed a personal matter without a right or wrong answer. Diabetes I will admit to. There are others (I used to work at Walgreens) that would tell me of medical issues that I truly, truly did not need to know about.